Originally from Montréal, Dr. Erki received her Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. After three years on faculty at Carleton University, she joined the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) in Kingston in 1989; by 1995 she was Full Professor and Head of Civil Engineering. Dr. Erki has authored or co-authored more than 100 papers in refereed journals, conference proceedings, and research monographs. Dr. Erki's current research is applicable to both the Canadian Forces and a wide range of Canadian and international NGOs, who have an intense interest in cross-country mobility in settings where infrastructure may have been badly damaged by conflict or natural disaster. The ability to deliver humanitarian aid so as to maintain order and civil society in settings of natural disaster is hugely dependent upon timely restoration of mobility and access. Her main research topics are the development of innovative fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) structures for bridges and large span structures and the preservation of heritage structures using FRP strengthening and monitoring techniques.

Research Interests

The development of innovative FRP structural forms that are material adaptive for the superstructure of short and medium span pedestrian and vehicular bridges, assembly area roofs and canopies

The optimization of complementary FRP technologies and connections used for FRP structures.

Strengthening heritage masonry and wood structures using FRP.

Honours and Awards

Mirko Roš Gold Medal for pioneering work on FRPs for civil engineering structures, Empa - a Research Institute of the ETH Domain, Zurich Switzerland, (2008)

Fellow of the International Institute for FRP in Construction (2004)

Fellow of the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (2004)

Appraisal Consultant for the Ontario Council on Graduate Studies for the MASc/MEng/PhD program in Civil Engineering and the proposed MEng program in Civil Engineering - Infrastructure Systems at the University of Waterloo, July 2008.

Evaluator of the Master's Degree Program in Civil Engineering at l'Université de Sherbrooke, Apr 2007.